i think they needed a quick and efficient way of digging up the soil surface, and instead of making the robot do all kinds of crazy manuvuers.....some egghead just did a burnout and they turned the robot around to gather the soil sample....

do you guys also realize that in 200 years from now, your direct descendents (great great great great great great grandchildren....who will probably bear your last name) will be standing on a monument in a museum on mars looking at that exact burnout encased in protective glass?